Tribune/John Byrne - Yankees catcher Zach Wurm reacts after two runs scored on his shot that got past the Red Sox second baseman in the third inning of the Yankees' 5-4 win.
Granted the Yankees could never play the Red Sox in the World Series, but with the Red Sox rallying from behind, Charles was put into an unenviable position. Charles came on in relief in the bottom of the sixth inning with two runners on base and the winning run at the plate and no outs.
The Yankees' closer for the Sparks City Little League championship game, shut the door and helped pull off a 5-4 upset of the Red Sox Friday night at Golden Eagle Regional Park.
Charles allowed one run on an RBI groundout, which only was able to score thanks to a Charles wild pitch that advanced runners to second and third. With three straight strikes, the No. 3 seed from the Centennial League capped a run to the title with its third straight upset win.
The Yankees built what looked to be an insurmountable 5-2 lead. The Red Sox, the second-place team from the Centennial League, got a single run in the bottom of the second inning on a first and third double steal. In the third, Chris Maselli put a charge into a Kenny Malzia offering over the right-center field fence for a solo home run.
However, Malzia looked solid after that, pitching 1-2-3 innings in the fourth and fifth.
The Yankees added an insurance run in the sixth on Jake Longero's infield base hit, and it's a good thing.
Malzia could not record an out in the bottom half of the inning. Maselli led off the inning by ripping a line drive up the middle. Kyle Davies followed with an infield single to deep third base that allowed Maselli to move all the way to third on the throw to first.
Maselli crossed home to make it 5-3 on a wild pitch, and Joey Dice worked his way on for a walk, ending Malzia's night.
Malzia picked up the win on the mound, giving up seven hits and one walk to go with four strikeouts.
The Red Sox pitchers were dominant but had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. Dice started on the mound and hurled four strong innings. Dice struck out eight batters and only one Yankee recorded a hit. An error and four walks cost Dice a potential victory.
The Yankees got on the board first when leadoff hitter Austin Warner drew a base on balls, stole second base and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
The lead went to 2-0 in the top of the second on a passed ball.
Warner and Charles led off the third with walks and both scored on an error when Zach Wurm's hard shot to second was misplayed for a 4-1 edge.
The Yankees (16-8) had to take down the Astros (National League No. 2 seed) and the top-seeded A's before holding off the Red Sox (17-7).
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